Of all these questions, only seven and ten point to the possibility of a worthwhile research program. Most of the rest make unjustifiable implicit assumptions which may be worth teasing out. Questions four and six, for example, assume that morality and meaning can only be found in service to a higher being. Questions two and three assume that dualism is true, or at least plausible. Question five, well, it just makes me despair for humanity. Who thinks that it’s a clever trap to ask someone why they refrain from sadism? Someone with an incredibly dim view of humanity, I’d warrant.

We need to develop better questions for atheists, questions that might actually lead to interesting answers. If you have any ideas, please leave them in the comments below.